LCD Window for Animal Training Device and Method for Manufacture

ABSTRACT

A housing forming a portion of an animal training device having a framing wall adapted to frame an LCD disposed internally of the housing. The framing wall defines an interior surface and a window for viewing of the LCD. A window pane is integrally formed with the window about the outer perimeter of the window and extends laterally outwardly of the perimeter of the window to overlie a portion of the inner surface of the framing wall proximate the window thereby integrating the pane with the framing wall, thereby effecting an extended seal between the pane and the framing wall and simultaneously enhancing the strength and rigidity of the framing wall. In one embodiment, the pane is integrally molded with the framing wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.11/782,635, filed Jul. 25, 2007.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to housings for animal training devices. Moreparticularly, this invention pertains to a housing for thereceiver/transmitter unit of an animal training device having aninternally disposed liquid crystal display (LCD) which desirably isvisible from externally of the housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Animal training devices are known for training or other behavior controlof an animal, such as a dog. Such animal training devices commonlyinvolve communication between a handheld transmitter of a radiofrequency (RF) signal and a receiver attached to a collar worn by theanimal. The handheld transmitter is commonly controlled by a user, suchas a trainer or owner of the animal. The receiver attached to the collarcontains electronic circuitry designed to convert a received RF signalto an electrical stimulation deliverable to the animal throughelectrodes disposed in physical engagement with the animal.

In use of these known devices to train an animal, for example, it oftenbecomes necessary to adjust various settings on the animal trainingdevice, such as intensity of the electrical stimulation, effectivedistance of communication between the transmitter and receiver, and thelike. For example, when using an animal training device to train variousanimals of varying size, the electrical stimulation must be sufficientto gain each animal's attention without injuring the animal. Therefore,the intensity of the electrical stimulation deliverable to the animalmust be adjusted to accommodate the specific animal being trained.Furthermore, some training protocols require that a single animalreceive varying levels of intensity of electrical stimulation based uponthe animal's behavior.

In order to assist the user in making adjustments to the animal trainingdevice, a display apparatus, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), isoften provided to one or both of a transmitter or a receiver. In theprovision of an LCD in a receiver, it is known to mount the LCD withinthe housing of the receiver. In so doing, the housing commonly includesa window defined in a wall of the housing. Commonly, a transparent paneis provided in covering relationship to the window to allow the user tosee into the housing and view the LCD. However, in such prior artdevices the interface of the perimeter of the window and its associatedpane is troublesome. For example, when the pane is a separate componentthat is fitted within the window, the association of the outer perimeterof the pane with the inner perimeter of the window often is initiallyless than adequate to exclude the passage of water, high-humidity air,dust or even debris into the interior of the housing. Even where thepane is initially installed within the window such as to be sufficientto exclude liquids, dust particles, or the like from the interior of thehousing, by reason of the nature of use of the training device, it hasbeen found that the relationship of the pane to the window deterioratesto the extent that liquid, dust or the like can pass into the interiorof the housing between the aligned perimeters of the window and thepane. Thus, in the prior art, as an animal wearing such a device engagesin typical animal behavior, water and debris are allowed to enter thehousing along the perimeter of the opening. Such entry of water anddebris can cause damage to the internal workings of the receiver and istherefore undesirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a housing forming a portion of an animal training device. Thehousing includes a framing wall adapted to frame an LCD locatedinternally of the housing. The framing wall of the present inventionincludes an interior surface and a window through which the LCD may bevisually observed. In the present invention, the window defined withinthe framing wall includes a pane which is integrally formed with boththe inner surface of the framing wall both in the region of the framingwall surrounding the window and extending outwardly from the innerperimeter of the window. The pane therefore fully covers the window andextends outwardly from the perimeter of the window to define a sealbetween the exterior and interior of the framing wall, hence between theinterior and exterior of the housing.

In one embodiment, there is provided a depression in the inner planarsurface of the framing wall, such depression having a through openingdefining a window generally centrally thereof. In the process of formingthe pane, the material employed to define the pane fills both thedepression and the window opening of the depression and is integrallyformed with the inner surface of the framing wall both between therespective perimeters of the window and the pane and between the framingwall and the pane. By integrating the pane with the framing wall, thereis developed a unitary barrier between the exterior and interior of thehousing which prohibits the ingress of liquid, dust or other undesirablesubstance into the interior of the housing irrespective of theenvironment within which the animal training takes place. Moreover, byintegrating the pane with window and the framing wall surrounding thewindow, the pane is not subject to dislodgement during use under adversecircumstances and the framing wall is strengthened by reason of theunity of the pane with the framing wall.

One embodiment of the method of the present invention comprises thesteps of: (a) providing a first mold which defines a void volume forforming a housing including a framing wall having generally planarexterior and interior opposite surfaces, within the interior surface ofthe first mold defining a depression, and within the depression defininga through opening leading from the exterior to the interior of thehousing at a location visually proximate to a LCD disposed interiorly ofthe housing, (b) introducing into the void volume a quantity of amaterial which, when cured, defines the housing including the framingwall, (c) providing a second mold including first and second components,the first component being adapted to close off the exterior of thethrough opening and the second component being disposed interiorly ofthe housing in alignment with, and spaced apart from, the interiorsurface of the framing wall thereby defining a generally void volumewhich extends between the second component and the interior surface ofthe framing wall and the exteriorly closed through opening, (d)introducing into the void volume a quantity of a material, which, whencured, defines a transparent pane within the through opening, and (e)removing the second mold components and recovering the housing with itstransparent integrally formed window and window pane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description of the invention readtogether with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional, exploded perspective view of the part of thehousing incorporating a molded window of FIG. 2 taken along section line1-1;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of one part ofa two-part housing for an animal training device incorporating a moldedwindow according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a two-part mold forfabricating the part of the housing incorporating a molded window ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the assembled two-part mold takengenerally along section line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and showing the injection ofuncured moldable material into the assembled two-part mold;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing a second two-part mold forfabricating the window pane and support structure exploded relative tothe housing; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the assembled second two-part moldof FIG. 5 fitted on the housing and showing the injection of transparentmaterial within the void to form the window pane and support structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is depicted a portion of oneembodiment of a housing 10 for an animal training device of the presentinvention. The depicted portion of the housing 10 includes first, secondand third walls 14, 16, 18 which define an open void space therebetween.A first one of these walls defines a framing wall 14 forming one aspectof the present invention, whereas the remaining second and third walls16, 18 define a portion of the geometry of the housing 10 and providesupport for the framing wall 14. The housing 10 further includes abottom wall disposed in a plane perpendicular to the several walls anddefines a floor 20 for the apparatus. The top 54 of the depicted housing10 is open for purposes referred to hereinafter.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the framing wall 14 includes arelatively shallow void depression 12, such depression 12 having a firstplanar top portion 22 which is disposed within the plane of the framingwall 14 and a second bottom portion 24 which bends away from the planeof the top portion 22 of the depression 12 in a direction inwardly ofthe housing 10, and along a portion of the floor 20 of the housing. Thisdepression 12 includes first and second side walls 26, 28 and is open atthe top end 30 thereof

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, there is provided a void throughopening which defines within the framing wall 14 an open window 32 ofgenerally closed rectangular geometry disposed generally centrally ofthe top portion 22 of the depression 12. This window 32 is aligned withthe line of sight of an observer located externally of the housing 10.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a substantiallytransparent pane 34 is disposed within the window 32 and extendslaterally away from the perimeter of the window 32 along an innersurface of the framing wall 14. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1,the pane 34 defines an integrally formed support structure 36 keyed tothe top and bottom portions 22, 24 of the depression 12. The supportstructure 36 is disposed within the depression 12 as the pane 34 isdisposed within the window 32, thereby allowing an operative engagementof the support structure 36, first and second side walls 26, 28 of theframing wall 14, and the bottom portion 24 of the depression 12 along aportion of the floor 20 to restrain the pane 34 against movementproximate the framing wall 14. In this manner, the support structure 36extends in overlying relationship to a portion of the floor 20 of thehousing 10 immediately adjacent a bottom end of the framing wall 14. Inanother embodiment, the pane 34 is secured in place by at least oneindependent fastening device, such as an adhesive and/or a plurality ofscrews. Those skilled in the art will recognize other fastening devicessuitable to secure the pane 34 within the window 32, and such fasteningdevices may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the housing 10 ofFIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 has a substantiallytransparent pane 34 closing at least the window 32 in the framing wall14. As noted above, the top 54 of the housing 10 is open. In oneembodiment of the present invention, an LCD 50 is received through thehousing top 54 and mounted internally of the housing 10 proximate theframing wall 14 so as to be readily visible through the pane 34 withinthe field of view of an observer located externally of the housing 10.Furthermore, the housing 10 is adapted to receive other of the wellknown components employed in animal training devices in electricalassociation with the LCD 50. To this extent, the housing 10 definesvarious openings and voids 52, such as a power switch opening and thelike, and such openings and voids 52 are adapted to carry variouscomponents of an animal training device. Following installation andconfiguration of the various components of the animal training device,including the LCD 50, a cover (not shown) is provided to substantiallyclose the housing 10.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pane 34 is anindependent element which is merely fitted within the through opening32. In a preferred embodiment, the pane 34 is formed as an integral partof the housing 10. In this embodiment, the housing 10 is manufactured bya method as depicted in FIGS. 3-6. The method of manufacture of thehousing 10 includes first molding a polymeric material to form theplurality of walls 14, 16, 18, 20 as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 includingthe depression 12 and the window 32 defined within the depression 12.Referring to FIG. 3, a first mold 38 is provided for defining a void 40shaped and sized to conform to the plurality of walls 14, 16, 18, 20(see FIG. 2). In FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of the first mold 38taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 is depicted. As illustrated in FIG. 4, anamount of uncured moldable material 42 is forced by an injection moldingapparatus (not shown) into the void 40. The uncured moldable material isthen cured, forming the plurality of walls 14, 16, 18, 20 including thedepression 12 and through opening 32 within the first mold 38.

FIG. 5 shows the portion of the housing 10 formed in the operationdescribed hereinabove, including the plurality of walls 14, 16, 18, 20.Referring to FIG. 5, after forming the plurality of walls 14, 16, 18,20, at least the framing wall 14 is fitted with a two-part second mold44. A first part 56 of the second mold 44 overlies an outer surface ofthe framing wall 14 and covers the open window 32. Additionally, anupper portion 58 of the first part 56 of the second mold 44 overlies thetop end 30 of the depression 12 and terminates flush with an innersurface of the framing wall 14.

A second part 60 of the second mold 44 overlies the upper portion 58 ofthe first part 56 of the second mold 44 and the inner surface of theframing wall 14, including covering of the depression 12 and the window32. A lower portion 62 of the second part 60 of the second mold 44terminates at a horizontal location adjacent the floor 20 of thehousing. In this configuration, the framing wall 14 cooperates with thefloor 20 and the second part of the second mold 44 to define a narrowslit between the lower portion of the second part of the second mold 44and the bottom portion 24 of the depression 12, thereby permitting theoutflow of a flowable molding material into the portion of thedepression 12 defined by the floor 20.

Referring now to FIG. 6, at the top end of the second mold 44, there isdefined a sprue 64 leading from the exterior of the second mold 44 intothe void depression 12 and its window 32. By these means, the secondmold 44 and the plurality of walls 14, 16, 18, 20 cooperate to define amolding cavity 46 which forms the shape of the depression 12 and itswindow 32, i.e., the pane 34.

Formation of the pane 34 may be accomplished by injection through thesprue 64 and into the depression 12 and its window 32, an uncured,flowable, transparent material 48. When the injected transparentmaterial 48 has cured or otherwise solidified, the first and secondparts 56, 60 of the second mold 44 are removed, leaving the injectedmaterial integrally formed within the depression 12 and its window 32.In the injection process, a portion of the flowable transparent material48 flows between the lower portion 62 of the second part 60 of thesecond mold 44 and the floor 20 of the housing 10. The portion of thetransparent material 48 flows into overlying relationship with, andintegrally bonds with, a portion of the floor 20 of the housing 10,thereby ensuring complete closure and integration of the depression 12and both the inner wall of the framing wall 14 and that portion of thefloor 20 of the housing 10 which is adjacent the terminal end of thesecond part 60 of the second mold 44. Moreover, in this embodiment ofthe invention, the extension of the molded transparent material 48 intothe depression 12 and onto the floor 20 enhances the strength of theframing wall 14. Particularly, such extension of the transparentmaterial 48 enhances the torque resistance of the framing wall 14 andaids in the retention of the pane 34 in good sealing relationship withthe perimeter of the window 32.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exact configurationbetween the second mold 44 and the plurality of walls 14, 16, 18, 20 mayvary without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. To this extent, in another embodiment, the molding cavity 46defined by the two-part second mold 44 takes on the form of the window32 only, thereby integrating the injected transparent material 48 withinthe perimeter of the window 32.

Referring again to FIG. 2, after formation of the pane 34 within themolding cavity 46, the housing 10 is removed from the second mold 44.After manufacture of the housing 10, the pane 34 is configured tointerface the framing wall 14 such as to at least integrally seal theperimeters of the pane 34 and the window 32 sufficient to protect theinterior of the housing 10 against the entry of dust, moisture, debris,and the like. As noted, the molding operations of FIGS. 3-6 preferablyextend the cured transparent material into, and filling, the depression12 as well as the window 32. In either event, in the method ofmanufacture shown in FIGS. 3-6, the molding material 42 integrates withthe polymeric material 48 of construction of the housing 10 to form awater-tight, or even air-tight, sealing of the pane 34 within the window32. By this means, the interior of the housing 10 is protected againstthe entry therein of dust, moisture, debris or other unwanted substancewhich might be injurious to the electrical circuitry disposed within thehousing 10.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description ofseveral embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have beendescribed in considerable detail, it is not the intention of theapplicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appendedclaims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications willreadily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broaderaspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representativeapparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described.Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departingfrom the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.

1. A method of manufacturing a portion of an animal training device,said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first mold defininga volume for forming a container having a plurality of walls defining avoid space therebetween, one of the plurality of walls being a framingwall adapted to frame an LCD, the framing wall having an interiorsurface and a window through which an LCD may be visually observed,another of the plurality of walls defining a floor substantiallyperpendicular to and adjacent the framing wall; (b) substantiallyfilling the first mold with moldable material to form the container; (c)placing a second mold proximate the housing such that the second moldcooperates with at least the framing wall to define a void for forming apane which fully covers the window and defines a seal of the windowbetween an exterior and interior of the framing wall; (d) substantiallyfilling the void with transparent material such as to form the pane inthe void; and (e) removing the second mold from the housing andrecovering the housing with its integrally formed window and pane. 2.The method of claim 1, said step of substantially filling the first moldwith moldable material further comprising the steps of: (a)substantially filling the first mold with an uncured moldable materialto shape the moldable material to conform to the container; and (b)allowing the moldable material to cure to form the container.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, said step of substantially filling the void withtransparent material such as to form the pane in the void furthercomprising the steps of: (a) substantially filling the void with anuncured transparent material to shape the transparent material toconform to the pane; and (b) allowing the transparent material to cureto form the pane.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the volume defined bythe first mold provided in step (a) further defines a void depressionoffsetting a planar top portion from the framing wall interior surface,wherein the planar top portion defines the window.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, said step of placing a second mold proximate the housingincludes positioning the second mold proximate the housing such that thesecond mold cooperates with the depression to define the void forforming the window pane.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the volumedefined by the first mold provided in step (a) further defines a bottomportion of the depression bending away from the planar top portion in adirection inwardly of the container and along a portion of the floor. 7.The method of claim 6, said step of placing a second mold proximate thehousing includes positioning the second mold proximate the housing suchthat the second mold cooperates with both the framing wall and the floorto define the void for forming the window pane.
 8. The method of claim7, wherein the volume defined by the first mold provided in step (a)further defines at least one opening for receiving a correctionstimulation device.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising thesteps of: (a) providing an LCD; (b) positioning the LCD within thecontainer such that the LCD is at least partially visible through thepane; and (c) restraining the LCD against movement proximate the framingwall.
 10. A portion of an animal training device manufactured by aprocess comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first mold defining avolume for forming a housing defined by a plurality of walls and aframing wall adapted to frame an LCD, the framing wall defining aninterior surface and a through opening for displaying an LCD; (b)substantially filling the first mold with housing material to form ahousing defined by a plurality of walls, the framing wall, and thethrough opening; (c) placing a second mold proximate the housing suchthat the second mold cooperates with the framing wall to define a voidfor forming a window pane; and (d) substantially filling the void withwindow material such as to form a window pane in the void.
 11. Theportion of an animal training device of claim 10, said step of saidmanufacturing process of substantially filling the first mold withhousing material further comprising the steps of: (a) substantiallyfilling the first mold with an uncured housing material to shape thehousing material to conform to the housing; and (b) curing the housingmaterial to form the housing.
 12. The portion of an animal trainingdevice of claim 10, said step of said manufacturing process ofsubstantially filling the void with window material such as to form awindow pane in the void further comprising the steps of: (a)substantially filling the void with an uncured window material to shapethe window material to conform to the window pane; and (b) curing thewindow material to form the window pane.